Event honors entrepreneur Jit Saxena; also recognizes Raj and Nalini Sharma.
AB Wire
BOSTON: The New England chapter of the American India Foundation raised more than $1 million at its 10th anniversary gala held here on March 26. More than 570 guests attended the event held at Beantown’s historic Park Plaza Hotel.
According to the organization, the proceeds will go to AIF’s Maternal and Newborn Survival Initiative (MANSI), a public-private partnership working to reduce maternal and child mortality by providing care, resources, and support to empower local communities to care for their mothers and children – and improve local health systems.
“It was incredible to see over 570 supporters come together and raise $1 million which can support 40,000 expectant mothers and their babies through Maternal and Newborn Survival Initiative,” said Santhana Krishnan, a gala chair and president of the AIF New England Council of Governors. “The New England AIF supporters exemplify the spirit of thinking globally and acting locally. We are grateful to the community in strengthening AIF’s resolve to uplift so many out of cycles of poverty, and helping them to live healthy, successful, productive lives.”
Popular CNBC anchor Seema Mody served as the mistress of ceremonies at the event.
The evening included a touching personal testimony by Sumitra Mahato, a longtime community health worker in the MANSI program from Krishnapur village in Jharkhand. As sahiya, she has been serving expectant mothers and their babies in her home village for several years.
The event honored prominent Boston-area entrepreneur and philanthropist Jit Saxena. It also feted Raj and Nalini Sharma, who were instrumental in founding the local chapter in 2004, with a Special Recognition award.
“Ordinary folks with common backgrounds can create significant value in both for profit and non profits via entrepreneurship and in so doing can make significant contribution to their communities,” Saxena said, accepting the honor.
“Nalini and I were really touched by the special recognition and the outpouring of friendship and goodwill from all,” said Raj Sharma, who serves as a Trustee and AIF Board member. “For all of us, this is a genuine labor of love and we should all feel great about what we have accomplished in a short span of ten years and the legions of folks who are now part of our cause. Let’s look forward to the second decade with hope and optimism.”
Venkat Srinivasan, Trustee and vice-chair of AIF, said the response to the AIF cause from the Boston community has been very heartwarming. “Honoring Jit with the recognition he so richly deserves was genuinely touching,” he said. “The power of MANSI comes from empowering local women like Sumitra to be change agents of change in their own communities. Pratima and I are so proud to be a part of the AIF community,” said Venkat Srinivasan, Trustee and vice-chair of AIF.”
Srinivasan’s colleagues were also equally ecstatic about the success of the event. “It was an incredible, elegant and an inspiring evening with more than 500 guests where you could feel the energy and the pulse of wanting to continue supporting every infant and its mother from the most marginalized communities in India to enjoy this beautiful world of ours,” said Farida Kathawalla, the gala chair.
“The impact of MANSI was strongly felt at our 10th anniversary gala,” said Nirmala Garimella, Head of Development of the chapter. “It was a record breaking event with many new attendees. We also had a chance to say ‘thank you’ to Raj and Nalini who have been pillars of strength to the Boston Chapter. I am also very grateful to the NE community of generous donors, amazing volunteers and strong supporters who make all this happen year after year.”
A musical and dance performance by Smitha Radhakrishan and Women of the World, an a cappella group that sings folk and traditional music from different parts of the world, was one of the highlights of the evening. Dinner was served by Boston-area restaurant Masala Art.
The New England gala chairs were Namita and Santhana Krishnan and Farida and Imtiaz Kathawalla. The chapter trustees include Nalini and Raj Sharma, Pratima and Venkat Srinivasan, Drs. Sunita and Brian Periera, and Vandana and Vivek Sharma. The New England Council of Governors include Srini Ambati, Nirmala Garimella, Andy Gupta, Farida Kathawalla, Vikram Mahidhar, Nimit Nathwani and Sangita Thakore.